A DISMISSED police officer tagged as a high-value drug personality was arrested during a search warrant operation in Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper, Iloilo City.
Authorities seized around 100 grams of shabu valued at P680,000, drug paraphernalia, firearm replicas, and live ammunition in the early morning on June 5, 2025.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas commended the Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo), led by Police Colonel Kim Legada, the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) headed by Police Captain Ryan Christ Inot, and the Icpo Swat Team led by Police Lieutenant Leo Angelo Castro, for the operation.
“While we celebrate this success, I am deeply disheartened to learn that the suspect is a former member of the police force. This reminds us of the continued need for vigilance, internal reform, and accountability. To all the officers involved, thank you for your courage, precision, an commitment to justice,” Treñas said.
The operation began around 6 a.m. and was carried out by the CDEU with support from the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit (PDEG-SOU) and the Icpo Swat, under a court-issued search warrant for violations of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The suspect, alias Banog, 58, male, married, and a resident of the area, was arrested in his home where police recovered the following items:
11 heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu weighing about 100 grams, worth P680,000
One improvised tooter with shabu residue
Seven pieces of live ammunition for caliber .45
Eight pieces of live ammunition for caliber .22
Ten empty cartridge shells for caliber .22
One AR-15 airsoft gun replica
One Glock 17 airsoft gun replica
Various non-drug-related paraphernalia
Legada praised the operation and emphasized the Icpo’s commitment to eliminating illegal drugs and unregistered firearms in Iloilo City.
“This successful operation reflects Icpo’s firm commitment in the fight against illegal drugs and in arresting individuals involved in its proliferation, as well as the crackdown on loose firearms. Let this be a strong warning to drug peddlers -- your days are numbered. Whoever you are, we will enforce the full force of the law for the welfare of our people and the safety of our community,” Legada said.
The suspect is now under the custody of Iloilo City Police Station 1 and will face charges for violating RA 9165 and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013. (Leo Solinap)